AP Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan bats for Red Cross units in schools, colleges

Vijayawada: Launching the mobile app for enrolment of volunteers brought out by AP Branch of Indian Red Cross Society, Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan stressed the need to establish Junior Red Cross and Youth Red Cross units in schools and colleges to inculcate the spirit of voluntarism among youth.

Addressing the gathering at a programme held at Durbar Hall in Raj Bhavan here on Friday, the Governor said that presently the world was passing through a difficult time due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

He said the Covid-19 has crippled the economy and paralysed normal life of people all over the world and people were fighting the battle against an invisible enemy. "This is the biggest public health emergency that requires to be handled collectively as a society and as a community," he pointed out.

The Governor said the state branch of Indian Red Cross Society as an auxiliary organisation of government has extended support to government machinery with its army of about 2,000 volunteers in the fight against Covid-19 during the 65 days of lockdown imposed in the country.

The volunteers have been providing support to the frontline warriors by complementing their efforts by organising relief camps, distribution of food packets, enforcing physical distancing and creating awareness among people through community surveillance, the Governor said.

He urged the heads of school education and higher education departments to take necessary steps to establish Junior Red Cross and Youth Red Cross units in schools and colleges and integrate them into the regular academic curriculum. He said the mobile app launched by the IRCS AP State Branch will help in mass enrolment of youth volunteers and to maintain communication with them.

The Governor stressed the need to spread awareness on health safety measures such as physical distancing, use of face mask and frequent hand wash, which have now become an integral part of our daily activity.

He emphasised on the need to improve sanitation in schools and colleges and setting up of hand washing stations.

The Governor directed the officials of Red Cross officials to focus more on voluntary blood donation and tree plantation as a regular activity.

A K Parida, general secretary and CEO of IRCS of the state branch explaining features of the mobile app, said it is first of its kind in the country and helps the Red Cross to enroll volunteers, maintain centralised database, send SMS to volunteers among others.

Satish Chandra, Special Chief Secretary of the Higher Education, Mukesh Kumar Meena, Secretary to Governor and Vice-President of IRCS AP, Prof K Hemachandra Reddy, Chairman, AP State Council of Higher Education, Dr P Shyama Prasad, Vice-Chancellor, NTR Health University, Dr A Sridhar Reddy, Chairman, IRCS, AP, MM Naik, Commissioner of Collegiate and Technical Education, Chinna Veerabhadrudu, Commissioner of School Education, Harindra Kumar, CEO, APCFSS, K Petri Selvi, Special Officer, also participated in the programme.